Kenya’s Communications Commission (CCK) is set to be disbanded and will be replaced by a new body to regulate the communications industry in the country – one which will be free of government and commercial influence.

Kenya’s Communications Commission (CCK) is set to be disbanded, and will be replaced by new body to regulate the communications industry in the country (image: file)

The Independent Communications Commission of Kenya Bill 2011, which will be the crux of disbanding the CCK, is in its final draft stage and is expected to be ready for public debate by the end of this month.

In its current form, there are four permanent secretaries sitting in the 10 member board of directors and the chairman appointed by the President.

Once the Act is passed, there will be seven commissioners selected through an interview process and the Public Service Commission will forward the names to the President for final approval.

The role of the seven commissioners will be all-encompassing, with each having a different task including compliance, spectrum and pricing.

“The Commission shall establish its own administration and appoint a suitably qualified and experienced person designated as the Director-General to the Commission as the chief executive officer of the Commission for the purpose of assisting the Commission, subject to the Commission’s direction and control,” reads the draft bill.

It is also expected that the new Act will rule out any commercial influence which has, to date, determined the price of mobile communications.

“A Commissioner may not vote at, attend or in any other manner participate in, any meeting or hearing of the Commission, nor be present at the place where the meeting is held if in relation to an application relating to a license, he or she or his or her family member is a director, member or business partner or associate of or has an interest in the business of the applicant,” the draft bill added.